Local man dies alongside his family on flight MH17

A MAN born and brought up in Beckington has died alongside his family after they were on the crashed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

Andrew Hoare who grew up in Beckington and attended Locks Hill School in Frome died on MH17 alongside his Dutch wife Estella and their two sons Jasper and Friso.

After finishing school in Frome, Andrew worked at a local bank before moving away from the area. He later returned to Beckington to marry his wife Estella, and still has family living near Frome.

Tributes have been paid to Andrew who became a banker and was currently living in Luxembourg. His brother Hugo said, “Andrew was a warm, funny and wonderful man, whose smile and character lit up the room.

“Family was everything and will be terribly missed. Andrew was a devoted family man and he had been planning to join the rest of the family for a 60th anniversary party in Bath in just a few weeks’ time. The gathering will now be a chance to share their memories.”

Andrew and his family were on route to Malaysia for a holiday and he was among ten Britons killed when the plane was downed over eastern Ukraine after leaving Amsterdam for Kuala Lumpur.